May the peace, love and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ cover you in this new day.

I want to start this new lesson with a question:

Have you felt someone's hand on your shoulder with the sole purpose of encouraging it?

There are times when you just need a word, a smile or place your hand on your shoulder to encourage someone who is going through a test. It can also be the simple act of accompanying someone during a particularly difficult time and helping them not to lose hope. It produces a pleasant sensation to know that someone loves us in the difficult moments of life, where we cannot see clearly forward, or when we do not understand God's perspective and vision for our lives.

Have you ever done something like that for a person who suffers and faces painful situations?

God has assigned each of us special tasks within the body of Christ, and those who have the gift of encouragement or encouragement can rejoice in their special ministries (Ro 12: 8). However, giving encouragement is not an exclusive domain of people who have received a special gift from the Lord, but it is a wonderful function that God has assigned to all who belong to Jesus Christ.

In the early days of the church, new believers needed a lot of encouragement. The pressures of society increased, the persecution multiplied and very few had access to the apostles' teaching (1 Thess. 3: 1-10). Very often, the spirit of the early church came in the form of a person, as was the case with Timothy when he visited the Thessalonians. The same is still true today. Sometimes, simply seeing a loved one arrive can revitalize our spirit and eliminate the focus of our problems.

The ministry of the mind is indispensable, both for you and for the body of Christ. There is not a single person who does not need to be animated. If you look for ways to edify the people with whom you interact daily, you increase the likelihood of establishing meaningful and central relationships in Christ. As Paul said to the persecuted Thessalonians:

They encourage and edify each other, just as they do ... they admonish the idle, they encourage the low-spirited, they support the weak, they are patient with everyone (1 Thess 5: 11-14)